How I Built This with Guy Raz
Guy Raz | Wondery
Guy Raz interviews the world’s best-known entrepreneurs to learn how they built their iconic brands. In each episode, founders reveal deep, intimate moments of doubt and failure, and share insights on their eventual success. How I Built This is a master-class on innovation, creativity, leadership and how to navigate challenges of all kinds.New episodes release on Mondays and Thursdays. Listen to How I Built This on the Wondery App or wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/how-i-built-this now. Get your How I Built This merch at WonderyShop.com/HowIBuiltThis.
Episodes
Mentioned books
21 snips
Jan 8, 2024 • 1h 10min
Calendly: Tope Awotona (2020)
Tope Awotona, Founder and CEO of Calendly, shares his inspiring journey from Nigeria to tech entrepreneurship. He recounts his many failed ventures before landing on the idea of simplifying scheduling through software. The discussion delves into personal tragedies and the resilience required to overcome them, alongside navigating the challenges of securing a technical co-founder. Tope reflects on the delicate balance of luck and hard work in business, ultimately showcasing Calendly's remarkable growth and the emotional facets of his entrepreneurial spirit.
21 snips
Jan 4, 2024 • 56min
Sharing the 2023 HIBT Lab Highlight Reel
Pinky Cole, founder of Slutty Vegan, shares her inspiring journey of rebuilding her fast-food chain after a devastating fire, demonstrating resilience and innovative branding. Nuseir Yassin discusses transforming his 1000-day travel quest into The Nas Company, showcasing the evolving media landscape. Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of Bumble, explores the future of dating, discussing AI's role in enhancing connections while emphasizing the need for authenticity in romantic relationships. It's a vibrant mix of entrepreneurial spirit and insight!
16 snips
Jan 1, 2024 • 1h 9min
Aviator Nation: Paige Mycoskie
Paige Mycoskie, founder of Aviator Nation, shares her journey from crafting personal clothes to creating a multi-million dollar brand. She recounts her early days, gaining recognition through bold self-promotion and memorable public presentations. Paige discusses how her experiences on the reality show Amazing Race inspired her entrepreneurial spirit. Despite challenges like a costly scam and navigating growth, she emphasizes the importance of staying true to her values by producing all garments in California, leading to remarkable brand integrity.
8 snips
Dec 28, 2023 • 36min
Charging up the electric vehicle market with RJ Scaringe of Rivian
RJ Scaringe, Founder and CEO of Rivian, dives into the electrifying world of sustainable transportation. He discusses the overwhelming demand for Rivian's unique electric vehicles despite supply chain challenges. Scaringe outlines plans for a new mid-size SUV by 2026, while emphasizing accessible pricing and production efficiency. He also highlights Rivian's partnership with Amazon for delivering commercial vans and the adventurous spirit of their customer base, with a focus on promoting eco-friendly values in a rapidly expanding market.
22 snips
Dec 25, 2023 • 53min
KiwiCo: Sandra Oh Lin
Sandra Oh Lin, Founder and CEO of KiwiCo, transformed an inspirational hobby into a billion-dollar venture. She discusses quitting her tech career to create fun, educational projects for kids, which sparked the idea for her subscription box service. Sandra shares her journey testing ideas with children, navigating Silicon Valley’s tough funding landscape, and overcoming early financial hurdles. Her vision for KiwiCo aims to inspire hands-on learning and grow it to a household name like LEGO.
35 snips
Dec 21, 2023 • 38min
Shooting for the moon with Steve Altemus of Intuitive Machines
Steve Altemus, co-founder and CEO of Intuitive Machines, once worked at NASA and now aims to commercialize lunar exploration. He discusses the logistics of sending the first commercial spacecraft to the moon, highlighting innovations and the global space race. Altemus embraces the importance of learning from failure and emphasizes sustainable funding models for lunar missions. He explores the potential of moon resources like water ice and rare minerals, while addressing the evolving challenges and collaborations shaping the future of lunar exploration.
61 snips
Dec 18, 2023 • 1h 8min
reCAPTCHA and Duolingo: Luis von Ahn (2020)
Luis von Ahn, a computer scientist and entrepreneur, discusses his groundbreaking journey from creating CAPTCHA to co-founding Duolingo. He reveals how an academic problem inspired a tech solution that became essential for internet security and digitization. Luis shares personal anecdotes from his childhood in Guatemala and how they fueled his passion for accessible education. He also explains the innovative freemium model of Duolingo and the balance between profitability and providing free language learning, alongside humorous moments that led to his entrepreneurial success.
17 snips
Dec 14, 2023 • 39min
Framing the future of eyecare with Neil Blumenthal and Dave Gilboa of Warby Parker
Neil Blumenthal and Dave Gilboa, co-CEOs of Warby Parker, discuss their journey of disrupting the eyewear market since 2010. They delve into the pivotal role of brick-and-mortar stores for customer relations, despite their direct-to-consumer roots. The conversation touches on their commitment to social responsibility, like providing glasses to underserved students. They also explore the impact of artificial intelligence on eyecare and their unique path to becoming a public company, emphasizing innovation and integrity in their growth.
27 snips
Dec 11, 2023 • 1h 17min
Wondery: Hernan Lopez
Hernan Lopez, the founder of Wondery, shares his remarkable journey from a television executive at Fox to a podcast pioneer. He discusses the challenges of building a podcast network in a skeptical industry and the success of shows like 'Dirty John.' Hernan reflects on moments of resilience, including turning down a $25 million buyout, and highlights the importance of storytelling in his transition. He also delves into personal struggles with identity and his commitment to mentoring young professionals, showcasing how hard work intersects with opportunity.
17 snips
Dec 7, 2023 • 41min
Full body preventive health care with Andrew Lacy of Prenuvo
Andrew Lacy, co-founder and CEO of Prenuvo, discusses his innovative approach to preventive health care through full-body scans that can detect diseases early. He shares insights from his personal scan experience and the journey of establishing a healthcare business in a skeptical environment. Lacy addresses industry criticism, emphasizes the importance of patient education on preventive measures, and explores how advanced imaging can revolutionize individual health outcomes and accessibility in health care.
